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THE ROSE FYLEMAN 
FAIRY BOOK 


BY THE SAME AUTHOR 

FAIRIES AND CHIMNEYS 
THE FAIRY GREEN 
THE FAIRY FLUTE 
THE RAINBOW CAT 


























THE 

ROSE FYLEMAN 
FAIRY BOOK 


SELECTED FROM 
THE POEMS OF 

ROSE FYLEMAN 


WITH TWELVE PLATES IN COLOUR AND 
TWELVE OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS 


NEW 


YORK 


GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY 



• n to// 
Ys'Al 

/? £3 


COPYRIGHT, 1923, 

BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY 




THE ROSE FYLEMAN FAIRY BOOK. I 


PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 


NOV 30 ’23 


©C1A7G6109 




TO HER 

MOST POTENT AND 
ILLUSTRIOUS MAJESTY 

THE QUEEN OF THE FAIRIES 

WHO HAS GRACIOUSLY SIGNIFIED 
HER APPROVAL OF THE GENTLE LABOURS 
OF ALL THOSE WHO HELPED IN THE MAKING OF IT 

This Book 
is 

Humbly Dedicated 








CONTENTS 


PAGE 

FAIRIES. I 

THE LITTLE WALK. 3 

THE DAPHNE BUSH. 4 

THE VISIT. 6 

THE BEST GAME THE FAIRIES PLAY. 9 

FAIRY LORE.II 

RAINY MORNING.12 

A FAIRY WENT A-MARKETING.13 

DUNSLEY GLEN ..15 

TIMOTHY ..17 

FAIRY SONG . ..18 

SOMETIMES.. . 21 

AT DAWN.23 

THE ENCHANTED PRINCESS.25 

VISITORS.26 

prepare!.29 

THE FAIRIES SEND MESSENGERS.30 

FAIRY MUSIC . . w. 31 

THE FOUNTAIN. 33 

A VOYAGE . . 34 

USEFUL HINTS.38 

WHITE MAGIC . ..41 

SMITH SQUARE, WESTMINSTER.42 

PLEASE. 45 

CONSOLATION. 4 6 

ix 

























THE ROSE FYLEMAN FAIRY BOOK 


PAG* 

THE GOBLIN TO THE FAIRY QUEEN.47 

THE FAIRY QUEEN TO THE GOBLIN.49 

FAIRIES IN AUTUMN.50 

THE SINGING FAIRY.51 

A COMPLAINT.52 

THE WILLOW PRINCESSES.54 

THE FAIRY GREEN. 55 

SUMMER MORNING. 57 

THE HAYFIELD.58 

A STRANGE PAIR. 62 

FAIRIES IN THE MALVERNS. : 64 

THE FAIRY TAILOR.66 

I STOOD AGAINST THE WINDOW.68 

IF YOU MEET A FAIRY.71 

THE FAIRY FLUTE.74 

THIS IS THE WAY THE FAIRIES SING .... 77 

INVITATION.79 

TREES AND FAIRIES.81 

THE FAIRY BALL.82 

VISION.84 

THE ISLAND.86 

YESTERDAY IN OXFORD STREET.90 

FAIRIES AND CHIMNEYS.92 

HAVE YOU WATCHED THE FAIRIES? .... 96 


THE FAIRIES HAVE NEVER A PENNY TO SPEND . . 97 


THE FAIRY LOVER.98 

ROBIN’S CHRISTMAS CAROL.100 

THE FAIRIES GIVE THANKS.ioi 

ENVOI—TO THE FAIRIES .•.102 

X 


























LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

A FAIRY WENT A-MARKETING . . . .Frontispiece 

PAGE 

THERE ARE FAIRIES AT THE BOTTOM OF OUR GARDEN xiv 

WHEN I WENT TO FAIRYLAND. 7 

FAIRIES LEARN TO DANCE BEFORE THEY LEARN TO 

WALK.10 

THE FAIRIES WILL HAVE GATHERED IN THE FOREST 

VERY SOON.19 

AND THERE THEY SAT AND SANG ALL NIGHT . . 27 

WE ANCHORED BY THE MOON. 35 

FAIRY FLANNEL IS THE SKIN OF PEACHES ... 39 

OVER THE FIELD THE FAIRIES WENT .... 59 

AND THERE WERE STRINGS OF FAIRIES .... 69 

IF YOU MEET A FAIRY DON’T RUN AWAY ... 72 

ALL THE LITTLE SINGING-BIRDS LISTEN TO THE 

TUNE. 75 

SHE’S SITTING ON A DRAGON-FLY ALL SHINING 

GREEN AND GOLD. 83 

TO FIND MY FAIRY LAKE . v v . r.' v . 87 


XI 








THE ROSE FYLEMAN FAIRY BOOK 


IT’S NOTHING BUT THE FAIRIES HAVING SUCH A 


JOKE.93 

SPREADING OUT THEIR LITTLE WINGS TO DRY THEM 

IN THE SUN.95 


Xll 








MgBfgH 



“there are fairies at the bottom of our garden !” 

—FAIRIES 


XIV 



FAIRIES 


FAIRIES 


T HERE are fairies at the bottom of our 
garden! 

It’s not so very, very far away; 

You pass the gardener’s shed and you just keep 
straight ahead— 

I do so hope they’ve really come to stay. 
There’s a little wood, with moss in it and beetles, 
And a little stream that quietly runs through; 
You wouldn’t think they’d dare to come merry¬ 
making there— 

Well, they do. 


There are fairies at the bottom of our garden! 

They often have a dance on summer nights; 

The butterflies and bees make a lovely little 
breeze, 

And the rabbits stand about and hold the 
lights. 

Did you know that they could sit upon the 
moonbeams 

And pick a little star to make a fan, 

And dance away up there in the middle of the 
air? 

Well, they can. 




FAIRIES 


There are fairies at the bottom of our garden! 

You cannot think how beautiful they are; 
They all stand up and sing when the Fairy 
Queen and King 

Come gently floating down upon their car. 
The King is very proud and very handsome; 
The Queen—now can you guess who that 
could be 

(She’s a little girl all day, but at night she steals 
away) ? 

Well—it’s ME! 




THE LITTLE WALK 


THE LITTLE WALK 

WO stone steps lead into the Little Walk 



And an iron gate that is always open 


wide; 


There are railings painted green 

With a speckled path between 

And a little row of houses on either side; 

Ten little quiet houses with ten little lawns. 

The doors and window are shut. There is no- 
one about; 

No-one plays on the grass 

But I sometimes think when I pass 

That now and then a shy little face peeps out. 

I should like to stand by night in the Little Walk 
When all the town is a-bed. I should like to 
know 

What wonderful things befall 
When the moon climbs over the wall— 

But I dare not go. 


3 




THE DAPHNE BUSH 


THE DAPHNE BUSH 


A LL about the daphne bush the happy 
fairies went, 

And spread abroad their silken hair to 
catch its magic scent; 

They chanted little silver tunes, they danced the 
whole day long; 

The rosy bush was ringed around with chains of 
coloured song. 


They danced, they sang, they flung about their 
tiny fairy names, 

Till swiftly over all the sky there ran the sunset 
flames; 

Then high into the glowing air they leapt with 
joyful shout, 

And with the ruddy shreds of mist they wrapped 
themselves about. 


Into my quiet garden close they swiftly dropped 
again 

(The music of their merriment tinkled like 
falling rain;) 


4 




THE DAPHNE BUSH 


Laughing they swayed, while from their hair 
they shook the warm perfume, 

Till all the place seemed filled with clouds of 
drifting daphne bloom. 



S 




THE VISIT 


THE VISIT 


W HEN I went to Fairyland, visiting the 
Queen, 

I rode upon a peacock, blue and gold 
and green; 

Silver was the harness, crimson were the reins. 
All hung about with silver bells that swung on 
silken chains. 


When I went to Fairyland, indeed you cannot 
think 

What pretty things I had to eat, what pretty 
things to drink. 

And did you know that butterflies could sing 
like little birds? 

And did you guess that fairy-talk is not a bit like 
words? 

When I went to Fairyland—of all the lovely 
things!— 

They really taught me how to fly, they gave me 
fairy wings; 

And every night I listen for a tapping on the 
pane— 

I want so very much to go to Fairyland again* 





“WHEN I WENT TO FAIRYLAND, VISITING THE QUEEN, 

I RODE UPON A PEACOCK, BLUE AND GOLD AND GREEN** 

—THE VISIT 


7 













THE BEST GAME THE FAIRIES PLAY 


THE BEST GAME THE FAIRIES 
PLAY 

HE best game the fairies play, 



The best game of all, 


Is sliding down steeples— 

(You know they’re very tall). 

You fly to the weathercock, 

And when you hear it crow 
You fold your wings and clutch your things 
And then let go! 

They have a million other games— 
Cloud-catching’s one, 

And mud-mixing after rain 
Is heaps and heaps of fun; 

But when you go and stay with them 
Never mind the rest, 

Take my advice—they’re very nice, 

But steeple-sliding’s best! 


9 





IO 









FAIRY LORE 


FAIRY LORE 

IRIES learn to dance before they learn 



to walk; 


Fairies learn to sing before they learn to 


talk; 


Fairies learn their counting from the cuckoo’s 
call; 

They do not learn Geography at all. 

Fairies go a-riding with witches on their brooms 

And steal away the rainbows to brighten up 
their rooms; 

Fairies like a sky-dance better than a feast; 

They have a birthday once a week at least. 

Fairies think the rain as pretty as the sun; 

Fairies think that trespass-boards are only made 
for fun; 

Fairies think that peppermint’s the nicest thing 
they know; 

I always take a packet when I go. 


n 




RAINY MORNING 


RAINY MORNING 


A S I was walking in the rain 
I met a fairy down a lane. 

We walked along the road together, 
I soon forgot about the weather. 

He told me lots of lovely things: 

The story that the robin sings, 

And where the rabbits go to school, 

And how to know a fairy pool, 

And what to say and what to do 
If bogles ever bother you. 


The flowers peeped from hedgy places 
And shook the raindrops from their faces, 
And furry creatures all the way 
Came popping out and said “Good-day.” 
But when we reached the little bend, 

Just where the village houses end, 

He seemed to slip into the ground, 

And when I looked about I found 
The rain was suddenly all over 
And the sun shining on the clover. 


12 




A FAIRY WENT A-MARKETING 



A FAIRY WENT A-MARKETING 


A FAIRY went a-marketing— 
She bought a little fish; 
She put it in a crystal bowl 
Upon a golden dish. 

An hour she sat in wonderment 
And watched its silver gleam, 
And then she gently took it up 
And slipped it in a stream. 


A fairy went a-marketing— 

She bought a coloured bird; 

It sang the sweetest, shrillest song 
That ever she had heard. 


13 




A FAIRY WENT A-MARKETING 


She sat beside its painted cage 
And listened half the day, 

And then she opened wide the door 
And let it fly away. 

A fairy went a-marketing— 

She bought a winter gown 
All stitched about with gossamer; 

And lined with thistledown. 

She wore it all the afternoon 
With prancing and delight, 

Then gave it to a little frog 
To keep him warm at night, 

A fairy went a-marketing— 

She bought a gentle mouse 
To take her tiny messages, 

To keep her tiny house. 

All day she kept its busy feet 
Pit-patting to and fro, 

And then she kissed its silken ears, 
Thanked it, and let it go. 






DUNSLEY GLEN 


DUNSLEY GLEN 

HERE is no road to Dunsley Glen, 
I should not know the way again 



■“* Because the fairies took me there, 
Down by a little rocky stair— 

A little stair all twists and turns, 

Half hidden by the spreading ferns. 

High overhead the trees were green, 
With little bits of blue between, 

So high that they could see, I’m sure, 
Beyond the wood, beyond the moor, 

The water many miles away 
Mistily shining in the bay. 

Deep in the glen a streamlet cool 
Ran down into a magic pool, 

With mossy caverns all about 
Where fairies fluttered in and out; 

Their sparkling wings and golden hair 
Made dancing twinkles here and there. 




DUNSLEY GLEN 


I stood and watched them at their play 
Until I dared no longer stay; 

I knew that I might seek and seek 
On every day of every week 
Ere I should find the place again— 
There is no road to Dunsley Glen. 


16 




TIMOTHY 


TIMOTHY 

Y cat Timothy who has such lovely eyes 
Is really not a cat at all; it’s only a 



disguise. 


A witch cast a spell on him a long time since 
And changed him to a pussy-cat; but once he 
was a Prince. 

On warm clear nights when a big moon is out 
He steps into the garden and never turns about, 
But walks down the path with his quiet proud 


air— 


He knows that the fairies are waiting out there. 

The fairies go a-dancing, a-dancing in a ring, 
He sits in the middle with a crown like a king, 
High on a throne in the middle of the grass, 
And the fairies stop capering to curtsey as they 


pass. 


Some day, some day when the spell is done 
He will be a Prince again. Wont that be fun? 
He will come to seek me and kiss my lily hand 
And take me on his foaming steed to reign in 
fairyland. 


*7 




FAIRY SONG 


FAIRY SONG 

ANCE, little friend, little friend breeze, 
Low among the hedgerows, high among 



the trees; 


Fairy partners wait for you, oh, do not miss 
your chance, 


Dance, little friend, dance! 


Sing, little friend, little friend stream, 

Softly through the mossy nooks where fairies lie 
and dream; 

Sweetly by the rushes where fairies sway and 
swing. 


Sing, little friend, sing! 


Shine, little friend, little friend moon. 

The fairies will have gathered in the forest very 
soon; 

Send your gleaming silver darts where thick the 
branches twine, 


Shine, little friend, shine! 


18 




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19 


























/ 












SOMETIMES 


SOMETIMES 

S OME days are fairy days. The minute 
that you wake 

,You have a magic feeling that you never 
could mistake; 

You may not see the fairies, but you know that 
they’re about, 

And any single minute they might all come 
popping out; 

You want to laugh, you want to sing, you want 
to dance and run, 

Everything is different, everything is fun; 

The sky is full of fairy clouds, the streets are 
fairy ways— 

Anything might happen on truly fairy days. 

Some nights are fairy nights. Before you go to 
bed 

You hear their darling music go chiming in 
your head; 

You look into the garden, and through the misty 
grey 

You see the trees all waiting in a breathless kind 
of way. 


21 




SOMETIMES 


All the stars are smiling; they know that very 
soon 

The fairies will come singing from the land 
behind the moon. 

If only you could keep awake when Nurse puts 
out the light . . . 

Anything might happen on a truly fairy night. 


22 





AT DAWN 


AT DAWN 

HOUGH the fairies meet by night 
In the moonlit spaces, 



Often in the morning light 
You will see their traces; 

If you rise at early dawn 
When the birds are waking, 

You may find upon the lawn 
Tents of fairy making. 

In the meadows here and there 
Where the soft wind passes, 
Elfin lines of gossamer 
Stretch between the grasses; 
And if you will look about 
Soon you will discover 
Fairy washing hanging out 
All among the clover. 


23 




AT DAWN 


In the quiet woods you might, 
If your ways be wary, 

Even hope to get a sight 
Of a little fairy 
On a lily-leaf, perchance, 
Broad and smooth and level, 
Practising her tiny dance 
For the evening revel. 



24 









THE ENCHANTED PRINCESS 


THE ENCHANTED PRINCESS 

S HE wanders in the forest with wide and 
solemn eyes; 

A little shade of wilderment across her 
forehead lies. 

No timid woodland creature her footfall need 
affright, 

The shadow of her floating hair is not more soft 
and light. 

She hears the gentle cadence of bird and wind 
and stream, 

They make a little song for her, like singing in 
a dream. 

Across the distant valley the pleasant sunbeams 
fall; 

The children in the cowslip field merrily laugh 
and call. 

She does not hear their laughter, she does not 
feel the sun, 

She cannot leave the shadowed wood until the 
spell is done. 




VISITORS 


VISITORS 

W HEN I was very ill in bed 

The fairies came to visit me; 

They danced and played around my 
head, 

Tho’ other people couldn’t see. 

Across the end a railing goes 
With bars and balls and twisted rings. 

And there they jiggled on their toes 
And did the wonderfullest things. 

They balanced on the golden balls, 

They jumped about from bar to bar, 

And then they fluttered to the walls 
Where coloured birds and flowers are. 


I watched them darting in and out, 

I watched them gaily climb and cling, 
While all the flowers moved about 
And all the birds began to sing. 

And when it was no longer light 
I felt them up my pillows creep, 

And there they sat and sang all night— 

I heard them singing in my sleep. 




“and there they sat and sang all night— 

I heard them singing in my sleep” 

—VISITORS 



27 







PREPARE! 


PREPARE! 


B UNNY, bunny, smooth your fur, 
Wash your little face; 
Dormouse, wake you up and stir 
Lest you lose your place. 

Hasten, squirrel, don’t be shy— 

The Queen is coming by. 


Linnets, wrens, be ready, please, 
With your sweetest notes, 
Perch among the waiting trees. 
Tune your tiny throats. 
Skylark, won’t you leave the sky? 
The Queen is coming by. 


Goblins, stop your naughty tricks, 
Hold yourself in wait; 

Witches, raise your besom sticks 
For an arch of state. 

Quickly, fairies, hither fly— 

The Queen is coming by. 


29 




THE FAIRIES SEND MESSENGERS 


THE FAIRIES SEND MESSENGERS 

T HEY sent a stout little red-breast bird; 
He sang from the garden wall; 
Surely, oh, surely the children heard, 
But never they came to his call. 


They sent a capering, glad young breeze; 

He shouted, he rattled about; 

But the children sat with their books on their 
knees 

And gave no heed to his shout. 

They sent a bee in a velvet coat, 

Busily, busily gay; 

He hummed his tale on a spirited note 
But the children chased him away. 

They sent a brave little fairy sprite; 

She peeped round the window frame; 

The children looked, and their eyes grew bright, 
And they came! 


3 ° 




FAIRY MUSIC 


FAIRY MUSIC 

HEN the fiddlers play their tunes you 
may sometimes hear, 



" " Very softly chiming in, magically 
clear, 

Magically high and sweet, the tiny crystal notes 

Of fairy voices bubbling free from tiny fairy 
throats. 

When the birds at break of day chant their 
morning prayers, 

Or on sunny afternoons pipe ecstatic airs, 

Comes an added rush of sound to the silver 
din— 

Songs of fairy troubadours gaily joining in. 

When athwart the drowsy fields summer twi¬ 
light falls, 

Through the tranquil air there float elfin 
madrigals 

And in wild November nights, on the winds 
astride, 

Fairy hosts go rushing by, singing as they ride. 




FAIRY MUSIC 


Every dream that mortals dream, sleeping or 
awake. 

Every lovely fragile hope—these the fairies 
take, 

Delicately fashion them and give them back 
again 

In tender, limpid melodies that charm the hearts 
of men. 


3 ® 




THE FOUNTAIN 


THE FOUNTAIN 


U PON the terrace where I play 
A little fountain sings all day 
A tiny tune; 

It leaps and prances in the air— 

I saw a little fairy there 

This afternoon. 


The jumping fountain never stops—■ 
He sat upon the highest drops 

And bobbed about; 

His legs were waving in the sun, 

He seemed to think it splendid fun— 
I heard him shout. 


The sparrows watched him from a tree, 

A robin bustled up to see 

Along the path: 

I thought my wishing-bone would break, 
I wished so much that I could take 
A fairy bath. 


33 





A VOYAGE 


A VOYAGE 

HEY took me out a-sailing— 
The boat was made of glass; 



We sailed upon the little clouds, 
The stars came out in shining crowds 
So thick we scarce could pass. 

But feather-light through all the night 
About the sky we sped; 

There were no oars with which to row, 
There was no tiniest wind to blow 
Though all the sails were spread. 

They took me out a-sailing— 

We anchored by the moon; 

The golden door was open wide. 

We saw a garden-ground inside 
Where it was light as noon. 

And fairy folk looked out and spoke 
“Come in, come in and play!” 

We climbed a little silver stair— 

It was so beautiful in there 
I wished that I might stay. 


34 





“we anchored by the moon” 

—A VOYAGE 


3S 








A VOYAGE 


They took me out a-sailing— 

Oh, strange the tales I heard 
Of charmed adventures in the skies 
Beyond the gaze of human eyes, 

Beyond the flight of bird. 

The stars went out, I looked about, 

I saw the dewdrops gleam 
Among the cobwebs on the lawn 
As we came home at break of dawn . . g 
It was not all a dream. 


37 




USEFUL HINTS 


USEFUL HINTS 


F AIRY flannel is the skin of peaches, 
Fairy brushes are the nuts of beeches, 
Velvet bulrushes are fairy pillows, 
Fairy muffs are made of pussy-willows. 





39 


A 















WHITE MAGIC 


WHITE MAGIC 

B LIND folk see the fairies, 

Oh, better far than we, 

Who miss the shining of their wings 
Because our eyes are filled with things 
We do not wish to see. 

They need not seek enchantment 
From solemn, printed books, 

For all about them as they go 
The fairies flutter to and fro 
With smiling, friendly looks. 


Deaf folk hear the fairies 
However soft their song; 

’Tis we who lose the honey sound 
Amid the clamour all around 
That beats the whole day long. 
But they with gentle faces 
Sit quietly apart; 

What room have they for sorrowing 
While fairy minstrels sit and sing 
Close to their listening heart? 


4i 





SMITH SQUARE, WESTMINSTER 


SMITH SQUARE, WESTMINSTER 


I N Smith Square, Westminster, the houses 
stand so prim, 

With slender railings at their feet and win¬ 
dows straight and slim; 

And all day long they staidly stare with gentle 
placid gaze, 

And dream of joyous happenings in splendid 
bygone days. 


In Smith Square, Westminster, you must not 
make a noise. 

No shrill-voiced vendors harbour there, no 
shouting errand boys; 

But very busy gentlemen step swiftly out and in 

With little leather cases and umbrellas neatly 
thin. 


Yet sometimes when the summer night her 
starry curtain spreads, 

And all the busy gentlemen are sleeping in their 
beds, 


42 




SMITH SQUARE, WESTMINSTER 


You hear a gentle humming like the humming 
of a hive, 

And Smith Square, Westminster, begins to 
come alive. 

For all the houses start to sing, honey-sweet and 
low, 

The tender little lovely songs of long and long 
ago, 

And all the fairies round about come hastening 
up in crowds, 

Until the quiet air is filled with rainbow- 
coloured clouds. 

On roof and rail and chimney-pot they deli¬ 
cately perch, 

They hang like jewelled fringes on the ledges 
of the church; 

They dance about the roadway upon nimble, 
noiseless feet, 

While the houses keep on chanting with a soft 
enticing beat. 

And still they weave their sparkling webs and 
still they leap and whirl 

Until the far horizon’s edge is faintly rimmed 
with pearl, 


43 




SMITH SQUARE, WESTMINSTER 


And the morning breeze blows out the stars 
discreetly, one by one, 

And the sentries on the Abbey signal down— 
“The Sun—the Sun!” 

And long before the butlers stumble drowsily 
downstairs, 

And long before their masters have begun to 
say their prayers, 

The fairies all have pranced away upon the 
morning beams, 

And Smith Square, Westminster, is wrapped 
once more in dreams. 


'44 




PLEASE 


PLEASE 


P LEASE be careful where you tread, 
The fairies are about; 

Last night, when I had gone to bed, 
I heard them creeping out. 

And wouldn’t it be a dreadful thing 
To do a fairy harm? 

To crush a little delicate wing 
Or bruise a tiny arm? 

They’re all about the place, I know, 

So do be careful where you go. 


Please be careful what you say, 

They’re often very near, 

And though they turn their heads away 
They cannot help but hear. 

And think how terribly you would mind 
If, even for a joke, 

You said a thing that seemed unkind 
To the dear little fairy folk. 

I’m sure they’re simply everywhere, 

So,promise me that you’ll take care. 


45 




CONSOLATION 


CONSOLATION 


Y OU may be very ugly and freckledy and 
small 

And have a little stubby nose that’s not a 
nose at all; 

You may be bad at spelling and you may be 
worse at sums, 

You may have stupid fingers that your Nanna 
says are thumbs, 

And lots of things you look for you may never, 
never find, 

But if you love the fairies—you don’t mind. 


You may be rather frightened when you read of 
wolves and bears 

Or when you pass the cupboard-place beneath 
the attic stairs; 

You may not always like it when thunder makes 
a noise 

That seems so much, much bigger than little 
girls and boys; 

You may feel rather lonely when you waken in 
the night, 

But if the fairies love you— it’s all right. 

46 





THE GOBLIN TO THE FAIRY QUEEN 


THE GOBLIN TO THE 
FAIRY QUEEN 

HAT do you lack, queen, queen, 

That is precious and fine and rare? 



" ^ A jewelled snood that shall lie between 
The delicate waves of your hair? 

I will ride through the sky on the evening wind 
With a golden needle and thread, 

And string up the tiniest stars I can find, 

To glitter about your head. 

What can I do, queen, queen, 

To hasten the hours along 

When you grow weary of woodland green, 
Weary of woodland song? 

A cage of gossamer gold I will tie 
On to a skylark’s wing. 

And there you shall hang in the midst of the sky 
And tremble to hear him sing. 


Grant me a boon, queen, queen; 
This is the boon that I ask— 


47 




THE GOBLIN TO THE FAIRY QUEEN 


Let me do service, mighty or mean, 

Give me a task, a task. 

Are there no jackanapes giants to slay? 

Are there no dragons to fight? 

Nothing shall daunt me by dark or by day; 
Make me your goblin knight! 


48 




THE FAIRY QUEEN TO THE GOBLIN 

THE FAIRY QUEEN TO 
THE GOBLIN 



AST night I heard a singing—a singing 
. in my dreams, 


*It wandered through my land of sleep like 
little silver streams; 

Like little purling silver streams that gently 
laugh and coo— 

Goblin with the shining eyes, goblin, was it you? 

Softer than the tender croon of my happy doves, 

Sweeter than my nightingales pouring forth 
their loves, 

Clearer than my valiant lark triumphant in the 
blue; 

Goblin with the whimsic smile, goblin, was it 
you? 

All night long the singer stayed close beside my 
bower, 

Weaving his enchanted songs, till that magic 
hour 

When the early morning light creeps across the 
dew; 

Goblin with the steadfast heart, goblin, was it 
you? 


49 




FAIRIES IN AUTUMN 


FAIRIES IN AUTUMN 

OU perch upon the leaves where the trees 
are very high, 



And you all shout together as the wind 
goes by; 

The merry mad wind sets the leaves all afloat, 

And off you go a-sailing in an airy wee boat. 

You fly to the edges of a grim grey cloud, 

And you all start a-dancing and a-singing very 
loud; 

The cloud melts away in a shower of peevish 
rain 

And you slide down from heaven on a slim 
silver chain. 


( 



50 




THE SINGING FAIRY 


THE SINGING FAIRY 

HERE was a fairy once 



Who lived alone 


In a mossy hole 
Under a stone. 

Never abroad she went; 

Only at night 
When the moon was clear 
And the stars bright. 

High on the stone she stood. 
Lifted her head 
And stayed singing there 
Till the dark fled. 

All the woods listened then; 

Not a leaf stirred: 
Sweeter far the song 
Than song of bird. 

Whence and how it came 
None ever knew— 

None but the fairy— 

And me—and you. 


5 1 




A COMPLAINT 



A COMPLAINT 

Y OU’VE stolen all our mushrooms 1 
When friends come in to tea 
In Fairyland it is the rule 
To offer them a satin stool; 

The grass is often very wet 
And furniture is hard to get. 

As you must all agree. 

52 




A COMPLAINT 


You’ve stolen all our mushrooms 
And left not one behind. 

If people came by night and day 
And took your prettiest chairs away 
And made them all into a stew 
Without so much as thanking you, 

Now would you call it kind? 

You’ve stolen all our mushrooms. 

And, if you don’t take care, 

We’ll go about the fields at night 
And paint the toadstools brown and white. 
And you’ll be punished for your greed 
By being very ill indeed— 

So you had best beware. 


53 




THE WILLOW PRINCESSES 


THE WILLOW PRINCESSES 


T HE tall princesses in the willow tree 

They move their lazy, lovely heads about, 
They wave their arms, their hair goes 
streaming out, 

Their rustling dresses shimmer like the sea. 


But presently they cease to sway and swing 
And stand quite still, and whisper gentle words, 
Quietly calling to the little birds 
To perch upon their pretty hands and sing. 


54 




THE FAIRY GREEN 


THE FAIRY GREEN 

U PON the magic green I stood 
Within the fairy ring, 

Close to the little rustling wood 
Where fairies always sing. 

I was a little bit afraid, 

I kept my eyes shut tight, 

While all around they danced and played— 
I felt the shining light. 

Nearer and nearer still they came, 

They touched my dress, my hair; 

They called me softly by my name; 

I heard them everywhere. 

I never moved, I never spoke 
(Oh, but my heart beat fast), 

And so the little fairy folk 
All went away at last. 

To-morrow I shall go again 
And seek the magic place, 

I shall not be so foolish then, 

I shall not hide my face. 





THE FAIRY GREEN 


But I shall stay for hours and hours 
Until the daylight ends, 

And we shall dance among the flowers 
And be the greatest friends. 

And I shall learn their fairy song; 

And when I come away 
Shall dream of it the whole night long 
And sing it every day. 


56 






SUMMER MORNING 


SUMMER MORNING 


T HE air around was trembling-bright 
And full of dancing specks of light, 
While butterflies were dancing too 
Between the shining green and blue. 

I might not watch, I might not stay, 

I ran along the meadow way. 


The straggling branches caught my feet, 
The clover field was, oh! so sweet; 

I heard a singing in the sky, 

And busy things went buzzing by; 

And how it came I cannot tell. 

But all the hedges sang as well. 


Along the clover field I ran 
To where the little wood began, 
And there I understood at last 
Why I had come so far, so fast— 
On every leaf of every tree 
A fairy sat and smiled at me l 


57 




THE HAYFIELD 



THE HAYFIELD 


O VER the field the fairies went 

Singing and dancing and well content; 
Over the field of sweet warm grass 
I saw their shimmering cohorts pass. 


The clover flamed to a ruddier glow, 
The slender buttercups curtseyed low, 
The wondering daisies, innocent-eyed, 
Bowed their heads to the radiant tide. 

58 





OVER THE FIELD THE FAIRIES WENT 

SINGING AND DANCING AND WELL HATFIELD 



59 








THE HAYFIELD 


And flirting butterflies, pearly white, 

Left the flowers for a new delight, 

Left their loves for the fairies’ sake, 

And fluttered dizzily in their wake. 

Over the swaying grass they swept, 

Over the hedgerow soared and leapt, 
Broke and scattered in golden spray, 
Gleamed and glittered—and melted away. 


61 




A STRANGE PAIR 


A STRANGE PAIR 

HE witch, the witch that lives in the 



wood 


Is not very pretty and not very good; 
Her face is brown and her eyes are black, 

A fierce old pussy-cat sits on her back 

With a sharp thin tail sticking up like a spire, 

While her mistress crouches over the fire, 

Be the day cold or be the day hot, 

Watching her strange little bubbling pot. 

The gobliny dwarf that lives on the hill 
He lies in the heather so still, so still. 

But on big dark nights when there isn’t a moon 
He puts on his cloak and his dancing shoon 
And runs along like a soft shy mouse 
Till he comes to the door of the witch’s house. 
“Ho!” he cries, “it is junketing weather”; 

And off they go on the spree together. 

Off they go on the tail of the wind 
The great black pussy-cat sails behind. 

Haven’t you heard them banging about? 
Haven’t you heard them whistle and shout? 

62 




A STRANGE PAIR 


Haven’t you seen them now and again 
Peering in at the window-pane? 

Oh, but I tell you it’s better to hide 

When the witch and the goblin are out for a ride. 


63 




FAIRIES IN THE MALVERNS 


FAIRIES IN THE MALVERNS 


A S I walked over Hollybush Hill 

The sun was low and the winds were still, 
And never a whispering branch I heard 
Nor ever the tiniest call of a bird. 


And when I came to the topmost height 
Oh, but I saw such a wonderful sight: 
All about on the hill-crest there 
The fairies danced in the golden air. 

Danced and frolicked with never a sound 
In and out in a magical round; 

Wide and wider the circle grew 
Then suddenly melted into the blue. 


As I walked down into Eastnor Vale 
The stars already were twinkling pale, 
And over the spaces of dew-white grass 
I saw a marvellous pageant pass. 

64 




FAIRIES IN THE MALVERNS 


Tiny riders on tiny steeds, 

Decked with blossoms and armed with reeds, 
With gossamer banners floating far 
And a radiant queen in an ivory car. 

The beeches spread their petticoats wide 
And curtseyed low upon either side; 

The rabbits scurried across the glade 
To peep at the glittering cavalcade. 

Far and farther I saw them go 
And vanish into the woods below; 

Then over the shadowy woodland ways 
I wandered home in a sweet amaze. 


But Malvern people need fear no ill 
Since fairies bide in their country still. 






THE FAIRY TAILOR 


THE FAIRY TAILOR 


S ITTING on the flower-bed beneath the 
hollyhocks 

I spied the tiny tailor who makes the 
fairies’ frocks; 

There he sat a-stitching all the afternoon 
And sang a little ditty to a quaint wee tune: 


“Grey for the goblins, blue for the elves, 
Brown for the little gnomes that live by 
themselves, 

White for the pixies that dance upon the 
green— 

But where shall I find me a robe for the 
Queen?” 


All about the garden his little men he sent, 

Up and down and in and out unceasingly they 
went. 

Here they stole a blossom, there they pulled a 
leaf, 

And bound them up with gossamer into a glow¬ 
ing sheaf. 

Petals of the pansy for little velvet shoon, 

Silk of the poppy for a dance beneath the 
moon, 


66 




THE FAIRY TAILOR 


Lawn of the jessamine, damask of the rose, 
To make their pretty kirtles and airy furbe¬ 
lows. 

Never roving pirates back from Southern seas 

Brought a store of treasures home beautiful as 
these. 

They heaped them all about him in a sweet gay 
pile, 

But still he kept a-stitching and a-singing all 
the while: 

“Grey for the goblins, blue for the elves, 
Brown for the little gnomes that live by 
themselves, 

White for the pixies that dance on the green, 
But who shall make a royal gown to deck the 
Fairy Queen?” 



67 




I STOOD AGAINST THE WINDOW 


I STOOD AGAINST THE 
WINDOW 

I STOOD against the window 
And looked between the bars, 
And there were strings of fairies 
Hanging from the stars; 
Everywhere and everywhere 
In shining, swinging chains; 

The air was full of shimmering, 

Like sunlight when it rains. 

They kept on swinging, swinging, 
They flung themselves so high 
They caught upon the pointed moon 
And hung across the sky. 

And when I woke next morning, 
There still were crowds and crowds 
In beautiful bright bunches 
All sleeping on the clouds. 


68 




“and there were 

HANGING FROM 


STRINGS OF FAIRIES 
THE STARS” 

—I STOOD AGAINST THE WINDOW 


69 






IF YOU MEET A FAIRY 


IF YOU MEET A FAIRY 

I F you meet a fairy 
Don’t run away; 

She won’t want to hurt you, 
She’ll only want to play. 

Show her round the garden, 

Round the house too, 

She’ll want to see the kitchen 
(I know they always do). 

Find a tiny present 
To give her when she goes, 

They love silver paper 
And little ribbon bows. 

I knew a little girl once 
Who saw twenty-three 
Playing in the orchard 
As jolly as could be. 

They asked her to dance with them 
To make a twenty-four; 

She ran to the nursery 
And hid behind the door. 





“if you meet a fairy 
don’t run away ; 

SHE won’t WANT TO HURT YOU, 

she’ll only want to play” 

—IF YOU MEET A FAIRY 


72 










IF YOU MEET A FAIRY 


Hid behind the nursery door— 
(What a thing to do!) 

She grew up very solemn 
And rather ugly too. 

If you meet a fairy 
Remember what I say, 

Talk to her nicely 
And don’t run away. 


73 




THE FAIRY FLUTE 


THE FAIRY FLUTE 

Y brother has a little flute 
Of gold and ivory, 



He found it on a summer night 


Within a hollow tree. 

He plays it every morning 
And every afternoon, 

And all the little singing-birds 
Listen to the tune. 

He plays it in the meadows, 
And everywhere he walks 
The flowers start a-nodding 
And dancing on their stalks. 
He plays it in the village, 

And all along the street 
The people stop to listen, 

The music is so sweet. 

And none but he can play it 
And none can understand, 
Because it is a fairy flute 
And comes from Fairyland. 


74 





“and all the little singing-birds 

LISTEN TO THE TUNE” 

—THE FAIRY FLUTE 


75 





4 


THIS IS THE WAY THE FAIRIES SING 


THIS IS THE WAY THE FAIRIES 
SING 

T HIS is the way the fairies sing: 

They all stand round in a smiling ring 
On quiet nights when the moon is high, 
And lift their faces up to the sky. 

They read the music out of the stars, 

There aren’t any notes and there aren’t any bars. 
And sweet their song as the clover flower, 

And soft it is as a summer shower, 

And gay as leaves that the June airs shake, 

And sad as the mist on an Autumn lake. 

None shall light on a lovelier thing 
Than the magical song that the fairies sing. 
This is the way the fairies dance: 

They point their toes and they leap and prance 
Over and under and round and round, 

Now in the air and now on the ground, 

In a shimmering, glimmering moon-lit maze 
To a wonderful music that nobody plays. 


77 




THIS IS THE WAY THE FAIRIES SING 


And swift their dance as the coming of Spring, 
And light as the touch of a butterfly’s wing, 
And strange as the gleams in a stormy sky 
And changing-bright as the peacock’s dye. 

Oh, lucky are you if you get the chance 
To learn the way that the fairies dance. 


78 





INVITATION 


INVITATION 

I F you will come and stay with us 
You shall not want for ease; 
We’ll swing you on a cobweb 
Between the forest trees. 

And twenty little singing birds 
Upon a flowering thorn 
Shall hush you every evening 
And wake you every morn. 

If you will come and stay with us 
You need not miss your school, 

A learned toad shall teach you, 
High-perched upon his stool. 

And he will tell you many things 
That none but fairies know— 

The way the wind goes wandering, 
And how the daisies grow. 

If you will come and stay with us 
You shall not lack, my dear, 

The finest fairy raiment, 

The best of fairy cheer. 


79 




INVITATION 


We’ll send a million glow-worms out, 
And slender chains of light 
Shall make a shining pathway— 
Then why not come to-night? 


80 




TREES AND FAIRIES 


TREES AND FAIRIES 


T HE larch-tree gives them needles 
To stitch their gossamer things; 
Carefully, cunningly toils the oak 
To shape the cups of the fairy folk; 

The sycamore gives them wings. 


The lordly fir-tree rocks them 
High on his swinging sails; 

The hawthorn fashions their tiny spears; 
The whispering alder charms their ears 
With soft, mysterious tales. 

The chestnut gives them candles 
To make their ballroom fine; 

And the elder-bush and the hazel-tree 
Assist their delicate revelry 
With nuts and fragrant wine. 


81 




THE FAIRY BALL 


THE FAIRY BALL 

I AM asked to the ball to-night, to-night; 
What shall I wear, for I must look right?” 
“Search in the fields for a lady’s-smock; 
Where could you find a prettier frock?” 

“I am asked to the ball to-night, to-night; 
What shall I do for my jewels bright?” 
“Trouble you not for a brooch or a ring, 

A daisy-chain is the properest thing.” 

“I am asked to the ball to-night, to-night; 
What shall I do if I shake with fright?” 
“When you are there you will understand 
That no one is frightened in Fairyland.” 


82 





“she’s sitting on a dragon-fly 

ALL SHINING GREEN AND GOLD” 

—VISION 








VISION 


VISION 

I ’VE seen her, I’ve seen her 
Beneath an apple-tree; 

The minute that I saw her there 
With stars and dewdrops in her hair 
I knew it must be she. 

She’s sitting on a dragon-fly 
All shining green and gold; 

The dragon-fly goes circling round 
A little way above the ground— 

She isn’t taking hold. 

I’ve seen her, I’ve seen her, 

I never, never knew 
That anything could be so sweet; 
She has the tiniest hands and feet. 
Her wings are very blue. 

She holds her little head like this 
Because she is a queen; 

(I can’t describe it all in words) 
She’s throwing kisses to the birds 
And laughing in between. 


84 




VISION 


I’ve seen her, I’ve seen her— 

I simply ran and ran; 

Put down your sewing quickly, please, 
Let’s hurry to the orchard trees 
As softly as we can. 

I had to go and leave her there, 

I felt I couldn’t stay, 

I wanted you to see her too— 

But oh, whatever shall we do 
If she has flown away? 


85 






THE ISLAND 


THE ISLAND 

I KNOW an island in a lake, 

Green upon waters grey; 

It has a strange enchanted air; 

I hear the fairies singing there 
When I go by that way. 

They guard their hidden dwelling-place 
With bands of stalwart reeds, 

But sometimes, by a happy chance, 

I see them all come out and dance 
Upon the water-weeds. 

One night, one summer night, I know 
Suddenly I shall wake, 

And very softly hasten down 
And out beyond the sleeping town 
To find my fairy lake. 

I shall not need to seek a boat, 

It will be moored, I think, 

Within a tiny pebbled bay 
Where meadow-sweet and mallow sway 
Close to the water’s brink. 


86 





‘and very softly hasten down 

AND OUT BEYOND THE SLEEPING TOWN 
TO FIND MY FAIRY LAKE” 


THE ISLAND 


87 





THE ISLAND 


The moon from shore to shadowy shore 
Will make a shining trail, 

And I shall sing their fairy song 
As joyfully I float along— 

I shall not need a sail. 

And peering through a starlit haze 
I presently shall see, 

Where swift the waiting reeds unclose, 
The fairies all in rows and rows 
Waiting to welcome me. 


/ 


89 




YESTERDAY IN OXFORD STREET 


YESTERDAY IN OXFORD STREET 


Y ESTERDAY in Oxford Street, oh, what 
d’you think, my dears? 

I had the most exciting time I’ve had for 
years and years; 

The buildings looked so straight and tall, the 
sky was blue between, 

And, riding on a motor-bus, I saw the fairy 
queen! 


Sitting there upon the rail and bobbing up and 
down, 

The sun was shining on her wings and on her 
golden crown; 

And looking at the shops she was, the pretty 
silks and lace— 

She seemed to think that Oxford Street was quite 
a lovely place. 

And once she turned and looked at me, and 
waved her little hand; 

But I could only stare and stare—oh, would she 
understand? 


90 




YESTERDAY IN OXFORD STREET 


I simply couldn’t speak at all, I simply couldn’t 
stir, 

And all the rest of Oxford Street was just a 
shining blur. 

Then suddenly she shook her wings—a bird had 
fluttered by— 

And down into the street she looked and up into 
the sky; 

And perching on the railing on a tiny fairy toe, 

She flashed away so quickly that I hardly saw 
her go. 

I never saw her any more, altho’ I looked all 
day; 

Perhaps she only came to peep, and never meant 
to stay; 

But oh, my dears, just think of it, just think what 
luck for me, 

That she should come to Oxford Street, and I be 
there to see! 


91 






FAIRIES AND CHIMNEYS 


FAIRIES AND CHIMNEYS 

OU know the smoke from chimneys— 



It often isn’t smoke, 


It’s nothing but the fairies 
Having such a joke. 

Round they fly and round about, 
Higher still and higher— 
“Dearie me,” the people say, 

“A chimney on fire!” 

You know the noise the wind makes 
At night-time now and then— 

It’s just those naughty fairies 
At their tricks again— 

Sitting in the chimney 
Round and round in rows, 
Singing all together 
And warming up their toes. 


92 





“it’s nothing but the fairies 

HAVING SUCH A JOKE” 

—.FAIRIES AND CHIMNEYS 


93 


mm 












4 


* 








“spreading out their little wings to dry them in the sun” 

—HAVE YOU WATCHED THE FAIRIES? 

95 



















HAVE YOU WATCHED THE FAIRIES? 


HAVE YOU WATCHED 
THE FAIRIES? 


H AVE you watched the fairies when the 
rain is done 

Spreading out their little wings to dry 
them in the sun? 

I have, I have! Isn’t it fun? 


Have you heard the fairies all among the limes 
Singing little fairy tunes to little fairy rhymes? 

I have, I have, lots and lots of times! 

Have you seen the fairies dancing in the air, 
And dashing off behind the stars to tidy up their 
hair? 

I have, I have; I’ve been there! 


\ 


96 




FAIRIES HAVE NEVER A PENNY 


THE FAIRIES HAVE NEVER 
A PENNY TO SPEND 

HE fairies have never a penny to spend, 



They haven’t a thing put by, 


But theirs is the dower of bird and of 
flower 

And theirs are the earth and the sky. 

And though you should live in a palace of gold 
Or sleep in a dried-up ditch, 

You could never be poor as the fairies are, 


And never as rich. 


Since ever and ever the world began 
They have danced like a ribbon of flame, 
They have sung their song through the cen¬ 
turies long 

And yet it is never the same. 

And though you be foolish or though you be 


wise, 


With hair of silver or gold, 

You could never be young as the fairies are, 


And never as old. 


97 




THE FAIRY LOVER 


THE FAIRY LOVER 

OU walk in your orchard, you sit in your 
bower 



Mid plentiful treasure of fruit and of 
flower; 

But you shall have pleasaunces brighter than 
these, 

With magical blossoms and magical trees. 

Your train is of damask, rich fold upon fold, 
Your gown is of crimson, your shoes are of 


gold; 


But a mantle of rainbows shall wrap you about, 
Besprinkled with star-dust within and without. 

Your ladies-in-waiting are gracious and fair 
And a little page stands by the side of your 
chair; 

But an army of goblins shall do your behest 
And fly at your bidding to East and to West. 


You shall sit on a cushion of velvety moss, 
Embroidered with sunbeams across and across, 

98 




THE FAIRY LOVER 


And a grasshopper chorus shall make you good 
cheer 

Or charm you with delicate lullabies, dear. 

I will tap at your window some moon-silvered 
night. 

And when you lean down through the jessamine 
white 

My fairy-swift wings I shall softly unfurl 

And bear you away to my palace of pearl. 


99 




ROBIN’S CHRISTMAS CAROL 


ROBIN’S CHRISTMAS CAROL 

I T was on Christmas morning, 

The very first of all, 

The babe within his mother’s arms 
Lay sleeping in the stall. 

The angels stood about him 
With snowy folded wings, 

And at his feet with golden gifts 
Waited the Eastern kings. 

The fairies at the window 
Came peeping where they could; 
They did not dare to venture in 
Where kings and angels stood. 

They clustered round the doorway 
To see the holy child; 

He opened wide his starry eyes 
And looked at them, and smiled. 


IOO 




THE FAIRIES GIVE THANKS 


THE FAIRIES GIVE THANKS 


T O all kind folk who make delightful 
gardens 

Where we may live, 

Enjoying days and nights of busy leisure 
Amid devices fashioned for our pleasure, 

Our thanks we give. 


For dancing-lawns and gravelled jousting- 
places, 

For guardian trees, 

For ferny thickets strewn with moss-grown 
mountains 

And lily-pools and waterfalls and fountains— 
For all of these. 


Charged are we also by our little comrades 
The gentle birds, 

That we their messages of thanks should bring 
you, 

Since they from grateful hearts can only sing 
you 

Songs without words. 




ENVOI: TO THE FAIRIES 


ENVOI: TO THE FAIRIES 

K INDLY little fairy friends, 

Here I fain would make amends; 
For I seek my verses through, 
Find no word of thanks to you. 

Many, oh, so many times 
You have helped me with my rhymes; 
When my tiny songs were dumb 
Oft and often have you come; 

Oft and often have I heard, 

Sweeter than the song of bird, 

Fairy voices, crystal-clear, 

Very softly at my ear 

(While you poised on fluttering wings) 

Telling me enchanting things. 

Often at the fall of night, 

In the gentle, dusky light 
Through my garden as I went, 

To my joy and wonderment 
Suddenly the air around 
Blossomed into lovely sound, 

And I knew that you were there 
All about me everywhere. 

102 




ENVOI: TO THE FAIRIES 


Could I tell what I have heard. 
Magic sound and magic word, 
There would be a book indeed 
Fit for all the world to read. 

But alas!—For all my pains, 

Of those sweet mysterious strains 
I can only hope to catch 
Here an echo, there a snatch. 
Yours is any happy line, 

All that’s done amiss is mine. 



103 




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